How many of us claim we have no time? The answer is: almost everyone. Time comes in a limited supply, but we can make the most out of our day with a little organization and a lot of foresight.
Where does all the time go? Many would argue there isn’t enough time in the day to squeeze in everything they need to accomplish. Words such as “busy” and “no time” slip out as easily as “please” and “thank you.” It is an inarguable fact that there are only twenty-four hours in the day. What you do with those hours makes all the difference. With a few simple techniques, you can rediscover the days when you had all the time in the world.
Prioritize
Many of us have become master jugglers. We throw parties, climb the corporate ladder, arrange for playdates, vacuum out the car, and powerwash the house. A lot of these tasks overlap or require our attention virtually simultaneously. Is it really necessary for our children to be active every minute of the day? Does it matter if the backseat has crushed pretzels on the floor? Do you truly have to cook a six-course meal for thirty people? The answer in most cases is “no.” Setting priorities will clear your plate and help you see the light. Ask yourself the following questions:
What would happen if I did not do X,Y,Z today?
Which project is most important to me/my family/my boss?
Which items can I scratch off my list altogether?
How many projects can I comfortably handle at one time?
View your life like a china plate. How many things can you juggle at once? When do you start to see fissures in the surface of your china plate? If you have too many things on your plate, chances are you’re ineffective in at least one area. What can you avoid? You can eliminate competing priorities by effectively managing your schedule.
Grab a Calendar
Visualize your to-do list. Better yet, write all the tasks you must handle in one day on a wall calendar. Purchase one large enough to record your daily activities. If you can’t find one big enough, that’s telling you something right there. You are most likely overstretching yourself. In that case, brainstorm what you think you must do today on a sheet of paper. Ask yourself the questions listed above to reprioritze your day. Then move to the next step.
Getting a visual of your tasks helps you gain a sense of how your time must be divided. Determine how much time you require for each task. Be realistic. Cleaning the entire house will take more than twenty minutes, for instance. Record things such as library book due dates, vet appointments, and doctors’ visits. Keep the calendar in a conspicuous place.